Chemical artillery shooting

What was the gas war on the french front in 1915-1918? this article is about the tactical use of chemical artillery shells and the specific use of chemical munitions of various types. Among the various methods of combat use of chemical weapons during the first world war, the issues of flexibility in its tactical use, chemical artillery shooting, of course, ranks first. If gas and gasometry attacks require complex advanced training, artillery firing chemical subject to the usual rules of technique of conducting artillery fire. But for the intelligent application of chemical munitions was necessary to consider various conditions affecting the success of chemical artillery firing - the influence of wind, weather, time, and specificity of the area. Chemical bombs are usually classified from the point of view of properties of chemical substances, which are their filling. According to the french classification of chemical shells are divided into the following categories:1. Malostoykim (filled with liquids, possessing highly poisonous and suffocating properties, having a low temperature of vaporization and quickly receiveaudio in the air). 2.

Persistent (curb substances having a high temperature of vaporization - their effect can last for several days). Americans define their chemical bombs on: malostoykim (having a temperature of vaporization to 20°), semi-permanent (with a vaporization temperature of from 20° to 200°), persistent (with a temperature of vaporization above 200°). The germans stopped on three main types of chemical shells: green, blue and yellow cross. Shortly before the end of the war they introduced mustards shells fragmentation-chemical action. The effect of chemical shells were manifested in the following way. 1. Poisonous malostoykim shells. Because the chemicals that were filled with these shells were flying, then at break they evaporate, forming a deadly cloud.

But this cloud quickly loses its effectiveness due to dissipation in the atmosphere. In the explosion of a 75-mm projectile formed a cloud 20 cu meters 105-mm projectile is 50 cubic meters and 155 mm - 200 cubic meters. On flat terrain and under favorable weather conditions, the toxic cloud was dangerous in the area for at least 50 meters at break 75-mm shell and 100 meters at break of the shells of other calibers. But the area, raked malostoykim gases, after the attack quickly lost its toxicity. 2.

Toxic resistant shells. They were divided into the following types. A) immediate actions (according to the american classification - semi-permanent). Substances that were filled with shells of this type, evaporated to break the shell only partially. A large part of the poisonous liquid is thrown on the ground and surrounding objects in the form of drops.

Toxic effects could last up to 15 days (shells bromobenzylcyanide). The area shot these shells for a long time was inaccessible for the troops, not equipped with gas masks. At break 75-mm projectile, the liquid is sprayed in the space of 5 square meters, 105 mm projectile is 10 square meters and 155 mm shells - 20 square meters. B) slow motion. At the moment of rupture of such shell contained mustard gas was sprayed into small droplets, which not only covered the surface of the earth and surrounding objects, but also formed special mist.

In dry weather the effect of mustard gas could last for 8 days or more; in rainy weather, and the action lasted no more than 2-3 days. But in closed terrain (forest, shrub, ruined buildings etc. ) its action is extended. The infected area at break 75-mm shells - 20 sq. Meters, breaking a 105-mm projectile - 50 sq meters and when you break the 155 mm projectile is 200 square meters. 3.

Shrapnel and chemical rounds. Fragmentation-chemical bombs were used exclusively by the germans. Powders chemicals like, for example, diphenylchlorarsine, required to spray more explosive power than the liquid. Therefore, for such shells was in need of a strong charge.

Adequate type of projectile were the german chemical projectile "Blue cross" - in his gap most of the chemical substances turned into steam, which, when rapidly cooled form in the air in the form of fog. Mustards shells fragmentation due to the high temperature of vaporization, acted relatively slowly. Almost all of the french chemical bombs containing a mixture of the smoke-generating substance. As dimokratias used tin tetrachloride, titanium tetrachloride and arsenic trichloride.

Application in chemical shells smoke-generating substances had both positive and negative sides. The advantages were: 1) to increase the duration of action quickly rasseivayushchei malostoykim gases needed to make them heavier, in this case smoke-forming substance is used as a weighting agent; 2) if the gas is heavy, smoke-forming substance is allowed to maintain the initial concentration of the gas cloud for a longer time; 3) the presence of smoke generating substances for easy adjustment; 4) the enemy instills the fear of fumes: not knowing safe smoke or not, the enemy was forced to wear masks – and this reduced his fighting capacity. At the same time, smoke generation substance reduced the amount of useful gas and complicates the design of the projectile. In addition, the enemy, seeing the cloud of smoke was warned about the gas attack and was able to take the necessary measures of protection. German and american chemical shells did not contain impurities of smoke generating substances. Americans for zeroing used special smoke shells, filled with titanium tetrachloride.

The effectiveness of chemical shells (except mustards) are largely dependent on atmospheric conditions. The most important factor was the strength of the wind. The wind quickly dissipated the gas cloud and increased the rate of evaporation of the liquid splattered on the ground. If the wind speed was more than three meters per second, malostoykim gases made only of neutralizing the effect.

The most favorable conditions for the use of chemical shells was presented by target, protected from the wind (forest, gorge, defile, etc. ). In heavy rain shooting chemical shells were unsuccessful. Despite the fact that mustard gas was relatively insensitive to atmospheric conditions, the heat increased its efficiency, and the rain is on the contrary reduced. The wind scattered the air in atomized particles of mustard, but had little impact on the liquid splattered on the ground. In the dark evaporation of mustard was slower. The french provided for the following types of chemical artillery firing: a) a staggering fire; b) neutralizing the fire; c) fire on the infection; d) restraining the fire. The french artillerymen are chemical counter-battery artillery fire.

Simon jones. World war i gas warfare tactics and equipment. London, 2007. 1) stunning fire usually opened for living purposes, holding a certain land combat (battery, crossroads, etc. ). It was necessary to create a lethal concentration of gas before the opponent has time to apply the masks.

For this purpose, was used shells malostoykim substances, and at one purpose it is necessary to concentrate the fire of several batteries. The shelling was carried out for 2 minutes. To achieve in such a short period of high gas concentration was necessary for greater accuracy of firing at a high rate of fire. The number of rounds required to fire at the front 100 meters, and with the wind blowing at a speed of 3 meters per second: for 75 mm guns - from 200 to 400 rounds, and 155-mm guns is 50-100 shots depending on distance. 2) neutralizing the fire was intended to undermine the physical and moral forces of the enemy. Used all types of chemical shells, which forced the enemy for a long time to wear gas masks.

The use of mustards shells forced the enemy to wear clothing and special protective clothing and, as a rule, to leave his battle station. When neutralizing the shooting was practiced alternate fire chemical and common shells to prevent the enemy to leave the dugouts and shelters. Shooting had to be done at least four hours. At a wind speed of 3 meters per second per 100 meters of front was deemed to be necessary to produce: piprani chemical shells for 75-mm guns - 500, 105-mm gun – 300, 155-mm gun – 200 pieces; mustards shells depending on caliber and distance, from 200 to 2000 pieces. 3) shooting at the infected. It caused the evacuation of entire areas of combat. For keeping the reached gas concentration, the number of shells was determined in the amount of 1/8 of the original amount during dry weather and from 1/3 to 1/2 of the norm - rainy. 4) restraining the fire was intended to prevent the movement of enemy troops, their concentration, the approach of reserves, the supply of munitions, etc.

The germans distinguished between the following types of chemical artillery firing:1. Upon the occurrence of a gas raid; shooting poisoning; fragmentation-chemical shooting. 2. The defense: shooting at the infected. The gas attack opened fire with several batteries, carefully shoot at one target.

The shots were fired within a minute at maximum intensity in order to achieve a high concentration of gas before the opponent has time to put on gas masks. For the gas raid was necessary the following number of shells: for light field guns, 100 howitzers – 50, the guns of the heavy artillery - 25 shots. Shots were fired shells from green cross but if there was reason to believe that the enemy would be a gas raid wearing gas masks, we were issued 50 rounds blue cross. The wind speed at a given firing must not exceed 3 meters per second. Shooting poisoning include: fire, gas obstructed.